Systems and methods for determining penalties

Abstract

A penalty allocation system includes a first equipment, a second equipment, and a processing circuit. The first equipment is configured to be worn by a first player. The first equipment includes a signal-carrying material configured to carry a signal. The second equipment is configured to be worn by a second player. The second equipment includes a sensor configured to acquire signal data from the signal in response to the sensor of the second equipment directly engaging the signal-carrying material during an impact between the first equipment and the second equipment. The processing circuit is configured to determine at least one of a penalty and a reward for a recipient regarding the impact between the first player and the second player based on the signal data. The recipient includes at least one of the first player and the second player.

1 . A penalty allocation system, comprising:
 a first equipment configured to be worn by a first player, the first equipment including a signal-carrying material configured to carry a signal;   a second equipment configured to be worn by a second player, the second equipment including a sensor configured to acquire signal data from the signal in response to the sensor of the second equipment directly engaging the signal-carrying material during an impact between the first equipment and the second equipment; and   a processing circuit configured to determine at least one of a penalty and a reward for a recipient regarding the impact between the first player and the second player based on the signal data, wherein the recipient includes at least one of the first player and the second player.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal-carrying material includes a uniform having a fabric through which the signal travels. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the uniform includes a conductive mesh including conformable electronics or electronic thread disposed within the fabric of the uniform, wherein the conductive mesh is configured to generate and carry the signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the signal is encoded with the signal data including an identification characteristic, wherein the identification characteristic includes at least one of an identification of the first player and an identification of a location on the uniform. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the signal is encoded with differing identification characteristics based on the location of the uniform to facilitate identifying the location on a body of the first player that is impacted by the second player. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine the location of the impact on the body of the first player based on the identification characteristic of the location that is impacted by the second player. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the signal includes an electrical signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the signal includes an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify the recipient of the at least one of the penalty and the reward based on a location of the impact on at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify the recipient of the at least one of the penalty and the reward based on an acceleration of at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify the recipient of the at least one of the penalty and the reward based on a position of a body portion of at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the at least one of the penalty and the reward for the recipient based on a predefined criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined criteria includes at least one of a magnitude for the impact, an impacted portion of at least one of the first player and the second player, and a level of an induced head acceleration for at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the magnitude for the impact includes a magnitude of at least one of a force, an acceleration, an impulse, and a torque resulting from the impact. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to communicate the at least one of the penalty and the reward to a remote device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for allocating a penalty, comprising:
 passing a signal through a signal-carrying material of a first equipment configured to be worn by a first player;   acquiring, with a sensor of a second equipment configured to be worn by a second player, signal data from the signal in response to the sensor of the second equipment directly engaging the signal-carrying material during an impact between the first equipment and the second equipment;   identifying, by a processing circuit, an at-fault player from the impact between the first player and the second player based on the signal data; and   determining, by the processing circuit, a penalty for the at-fault player based on the signal data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the signal-carrying material includes a uniform having a fabric through which the signal travels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the uniform includes a conductive mesh including conformable electronics or electronic thread disposed within the fabric of the uniform, wherein the conductive mesh is configured to generate and carry the signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising encoding the signal with the signal data including an identification characteristic, wherein the identification characteristic includes at least one of an identification of the first player and an identification of a location on the uniform. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising encoding the signal with the signal data including differing identification characteristics based on the location of the uniform to facilitate identifying the location on a body of the first player that is impacted by the second player. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining, by the processing circuit, the location of the impact on the body of the first player based on the identification characteristic of the location that is impacted by the second player. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the signal includes an electrical signal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the signal includes an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying, by the processing circuit, the at fault-player based on at least one of (i) a location of the impact on at least one of the first player and the second player, (ii) an acceleration of at least one of the first player and the second player, (iii) at least a position of a body portion of at least one of the first player and the second player, and (iv) a predefined criteria. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the predefined criteria includes at least one of a magnitude for the impact, an impacted portion of at least one of the first player and the second player, and a level of an induced head acceleration for at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the magnitude for the impact includes a magnitude of at least one of a force, an acceleration, an impulse, and a torque resulting from the impact. 
     
     
         27 . A method for allocating a penalty, comprising:
 receiving, by a processing circuit, first data from a first player-worn sensor regarding a first player involved in an impact with a second player;   receiving, by the processing circuit, second data from a second player-worn sensor regarding the second player involved in the impact with the first player;   determining, by the processing circuit, the first player and the second player are on opposing teams based on the first data and the second data;   identifying, by the processing circuit, one of the first player and the second player as an at-fault player in connection with the impact directly between the first player and the second player based on the first data and the second data in response to determining the first player and the second player are on opposing teams; and   determining, by the processing circuit, a penalty for the at-fault player based on the first data and the second data.   
     
     
         28 . A method for allocating a penalty, comprising:
 acquiring, by one or more local sensors of a sensor system positioned on one or more players, local data regarding an impact between a first player and a second player;   acquiring, by an external sensor of the sensor system positioned remote from the first player, the second player, and the impact, external data regarding the impact;   receiving, by a processing circuit, the local data and the external data, at least one of the local data and the external data including an indication of a location of the impact on a body of at least one of the first player and the second player;   identifying, by the processing circuit, one of the first player and the second player as an at-fault player in connection with the impact based on at least one of the local data and the external data; and   determining, by the processing circuit, a penalty for the at-fault player based on at least one of the local data and the external data.